Dr. Peter Attia

One of the things that we appreciated, meaning the team and I as we were preparing for this, was trying to appreciate how much of the research on nicotine is based on tobacco and its first application through, obviously, cigarettes.

One of the things that we appreciated, meaning the team and I as we were preparing for this, was trying to appreciate how much of the research on nicotine is based on tobacco and its first application through, obviously, cigarettes.

But then also the idea of using tobacco to extract nicotine for non-smoke, but tobacco derived nicotine versus synthetic nicotine, which is honestly what a lot of people are thinking about in that context. And so I think that's important to understand that it is not always easy to tease out the impact of nicotine.

But then also the idea of using tobacco to extract nicotine for non-smoke, but tobacco derived nicotine versus synthetic nicotine, which is honestly what a lot of people are thinking about in that context. And so I think that's important to understand that it is not always easy to tease out the impact of nicotine.

And I'll foreshadow one example that we're going to talk about, which is infertility. You would think we would have legions of data that would explain the effect of nicotine on fertility, both for males and females. It turns out that if you want to talk about it through the lens of smoking, that's true.

And I'll foreshadow one example that we're going to talk about, which is infertility. You would think we would have legions of data that would explain the effect of nicotine on fertility, both for males and females. It turns out that if you want to talk about it through the lens of smoking, that's true.

But if you want to talk about it through the lens of vaping or nicotine pouches, that's not true. And so I think that's one of the issues that I think makes this difficult to talk about with complete clarity. So anyway, I guess that's the first thing I would say. I think the second thing I would say is, and you alluded to this four years ago, we did an AMA on nicotine.

But if you want to talk about it through the lens of vaping or nicotine pouches, that's not true. And so I think that's one of the issues that I think makes this difficult to talk about with complete clarity. So anyway, I guess that's the first thing I would say. I think the second thing I would say is, and you alluded to this four years ago, we did an AMA on nicotine.

Don't worry, those of you that listened to that, there's very little overlap. I spent way more time talking about how nicotine worked, mechanisms of action. Today, we're probably going to, I think, answer a lot more of the practical questions that people have. And I will also say that four years later, there's frankly more research on some of the benefits of nicotine.

Don't worry, those of you that listened to that, there's very little overlap. I spent way more time talking about how nicotine worked, mechanisms of action. Today, we're probably going to, I think, answer a lot more of the practical questions that people have. And I will also say that four years later, there's frankly more research on some of the benefits of nicotine.

And to be sure, we're going to talk about both the risks and benefits of nicotine today. So anyway, I would say that's probably a good place to start.

And to be sure, we're going to talk about both the risks and benefits of nicotine today. So anyway, I would say that's probably a good place to start.

Yeah, this is something I think I, maybe I didn't do a good job of this four years ago, or maybe I did. And at the end of the day, people just don't appreciate nuance. But I remember being very surprised at how, A, people thought that the takeaway from the podcast four years ago was we should all be using nicotine. And B, people were like, how can you advocate for this as a doctor?

Yeah, this is something I think I, maybe I didn't do a good job of this four years ago, or maybe I did. And at the end of the day, people just don't appreciate nuance. But I remember being very surprised at how, A, people thought that the takeaway from the podcast four years ago was we should all be using nicotine. And B, people were like, how can you advocate for this as a doctor?

So my hope is to untangle all of that for people. Nicotine is one of many compounds found within the leaves of the tobacco plant. As such, it is in tobacco-based products. But the major health concerns that are associated with tobacco, which are primarily cancer and cardiovascular disease, for reasons we can talk about another time and we're not going to talk about today...

So my hope is to untangle all of that for people. Nicotine is one of many compounds found within the leaves of the tobacco plant. As such, it is in tobacco-based products. But the major health concerns that are associated with tobacco, which are primarily cancer and cardiovascular disease, for reasons we can talk about another time and we're not going to talk about today...

are not caused by nicotine per se, but instead they are caused by several other components of tobacco itself and tobacco smoke, such as everything from toxic metals, formaldehyde, things called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These are actually the things that are causing the harm. Now, There are byproducts of nicotine that are produced in processing tobacco, and they can be carcinogenic.

are not caused by nicotine per se, but instead they are caused by several other components of tobacco itself and tobacco smoke, such as everything from toxic metals, formaldehyde, things called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These are actually the things that are causing the harm. Now, There are byproducts of nicotine that are produced in processing tobacco, and they can be carcinogenic.

So that means, and this is a very important point, I want to make sure if you're trying to pay attention to the key points, this is one of them. This means that any tobacco-derived nicotine product may contain carcinogens. This was actually something I did not appreciate prior. I thought that you could extract nicotine from tobacco and be completely free and clear of carcinogens.

So that means, and this is a very important point, I want to make sure if you're trying to pay attention to the key points, this is one of them. This means that any tobacco-derived nicotine product may contain carcinogens. This was actually something I did not appreciate prior. I thought that you could extract nicotine from tobacco and be completely free and clear of carcinogens.